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Albums you use to test your gears?

Which CDs/LPs would you use to test/compare your system components?
I am going to compare the following components.
preamp: Clearaudio Microbasic vs Yaqin MS-12B tube preamp
- Amp: Linn AV5105 power amp with Yaqin MS-12B vs Yaqin MC-10L integrated amp
- Cable: Zu Wax biwire vs Linn K400 biwire vs Canare 4S11 quad vs single wire (old and cheap) stranded XLO cable
- Turntable: Thorens TD145MKii/Grado gold vs Clearaudio Emotion/aurum classics

My other components are Tyler Taylo 7U speakers and NAD C541i CDP.

My experience so far is that Linn AV5105 (even with the cheapest XLO cable) is a clear winner over Yaqin MC-10L (even with upgrade tubes and the most expensive Zu cable). The difference is readily noticeable with whatever kinds of CD/LP I listen to.
Emotion is marginally better than TD145MKii, but not as much as with amps.

However, it is rather subtle to discern the difference for phono preamps and speaker cables.
Maybe the preamps are very similar and my systems overall are not refined enough to show differences.

I wonder it would help further discern the differences if a particular kinds of music (either on CD or LP) are used for comparison testing.

Any input would be appreciated.
128x128ihcho

Showing 1 response by audiofeil

audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
I use the first cut of side two, In Your Eyes, from Peter Gabriel's "So" album to test tonearm/cartridge alignment.

The words "instincts" and "churches" are repeated a number of times. They will mistrack i.e. excessive sibilance if your alignment is off.

Listen for clarity and neatness of the letter "S" in both words.

This of course does not guarantee ideal alignment but, among others, it's one of the passages I use when setting up a tonearm and/or cartridge.
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